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THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2
The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome how he delighted “in the law of God after the inward man.” (Romans 7:22). He writes (verse 23) that there was “another law” which was at “war” with the (“law of my mind,”) which, of course, was the law of the mind of his inward man. That “inward man” is the Christ. (Col. 1:27).
The subject of this short writing is concerning the laws which are in force in the outward man and the inward man. There are physical laws and there are spiritual laws. There are laws and principles in operation all around us in the natural world. One very familiar physical law is the law of gravity which we who live in this natural world have to deal with every day. Of course, the law of gravity is but one of the myriads of laws which are in effect in the natural universe. And it is a matter of fact that as long as we live in the natural world (universe) we are going to have to deal with these natural laws. We have learned that there are certain natural laws which can be overcome by applying other natural laws. The thought I wish to convey here is that all natural laws operate on a far lesser level than spiritual laws.
We all know how the (natural) “law of sin and death” holds sway over people who live their life in the natural realm. No matter how much a person may struggle against that law of sin and death after the natural they can never overcome it. And really, there is never a struggle arising in anyone living in the natural realm causing them to desire to overcome that law, for it is not in their nature to do so. Those living in the natural world; after the natural consciousness, are living in the nature that is natural to them. For them, there is nothing else. However, there is within every person a strange propensity to worship and give reverence to something that they know inwardly is far superior to the realm in which they live. That inward knowing seems to be a great void (deep) within them that is covered over and shrouded in mystery and darkness. That great void or deep within every person is the realm of their spirit.
It is only when God begins to draw each person inwardly within themselves by His Spirit and quickens them in that inward realm of their being that they are made conscious of another realm of life beyond the natural world. Every person in the natural world is sealed off within that realm from the spiritual world which is above them. There is no way for anyone to escape from the natural world by any natural means or law. It takes a higher law other than any natural law to give freedom to those who are sealed within the natural world.
That higher law comes from God and it is His law of love! God has provided a DOOR of entrance into His Kingdom of Life for all of humanity who are in bondage to the law of sin and death that dominates and controls them. That DOOR was opened at Calvary through Jesus Christ. There is NO other door through which any person may pass which will lead them into God’s Kingdom; it is only through The Door, Jesus Christ. (John 10:7, 9).
There is a higher, far superior law which renders the law of sin and death utterly powerless, and it is the “law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” It is the LAW OF THE SPIRIT, and it is THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE, and furthermore, it is the LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS that MADE ME (us) FREE f-r-o-m the law of sin and death!
When we entered into this natural world we made our entrance in a body of flesh and blood; a body with a natural mind and consciousness with a natural nature and temperament. Even in our conception within the womb we were entering into a natural world held in the grips of the law of sin and death. We all grew from our infant state into fully grown men or women learning and living under the bondage of corruption enforced by the law of sin and death. Sin and death entered into the world by the first man Adam. It was because of that ONE man that sin (Grk: harmateo - missing the mark) entered the world. (Romans 5:12).
The ONLY way out of Adam’s world of sin and death is through Jesus Christ. For even as it was by ONE man (Adam) that sin and death entered into the world, even so, it was by ONE Man that God’s gift of life came into the world.
“But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.” Romans 5:15-16.
There was (and is) absolutely nothing we can do to deliver ourselves out from under the law of sin and death. We do not have to do anything to earn the GIFT OF GOD’S GRACE all we do is accept it (through faith).
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10.
The higher law; the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, will lift us up and out of Adams world of sin and death. When the Spirit of God draws us to Christ to receive Him as our Saviour, it is always God’s work toward us – never our work toward God. Our salvation is God’s gift to us through His beloved Son Jesus Christ. There is no other means of salvation. (Acts 4:12). Therefore, it is through Jesus Christ that we are delivered out of Adams world of sin and death into God’s kingdom of Life IN Jesus Christ.
The law of sin and death only operates and enforces its power and authority in the natural and carnal mind and consciousness of Adam.
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh (carnal minded), but in the Spirit (Spirit minded), if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:6-9.
There are two minds; two realms of consciousness, one is the mind of the first man Adam; the other is the mind of the second Man Adam (Christ Jesus). If we abide in the consciousness of the first man Adam we will die, but if we through the Spirit of Christ do render the consciousness of the first man Adam inoperative then we shall live.
“For if ye live after the flesh (carnal mind, consciousness), ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit (mind, consciousness) do mortify (kill, render inoperative) the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:13-14.
The law of sin and death operates in and through the natural and carnal mind and consciousness of the Adamic man/body. The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus is the law which operates in the mind of Christ in the body of Christ. The former genders death, the latter genders life. The glorious truth is that the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus is far GREATER than the law of sin and death; therefore, the GREATER shall overcome the lesser.
When Christ Jesus came into this world He took the whole sinful Adamic race into His death on the cross at Calvary! When God raised Christ Jesus from the tomb on resurrection’s morning, He raised Adam’s entire fallen race with Him and seated them/us with Him in heavenly places in Christ.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened (raised us to life) us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7.
Aren’t you glad?
Dale Luttrell Oct, 2011
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